The OneLove Futbol Club's U19 Samurai soccer team, completed a goal of being the first local team to attend the Northern California Spring College showcase in Redwood City last weekend, March 8 and 9.

Fifty fields in the south peninsula were used in this tournament, which employs the highest level of youth soccer competition. Soccer coaches from Stanford and San Jos? State were taking recruitment notes and talked to Coach Heim about a couple of the players.

Although victory was elusive for the Samurai, they consistently improved with each game, playing with and for one another. There were some great team and individual performances. They proved that there is enough skill and talent in this community to be capable of competing at the highest level.

Former Samurai member Uriel Ayala, who had a successful first season with the San Jos? State Spartans soccer team last fall, came out to help as an assistant coach, running drills with and giving advice to his old teammates.

Coach Heim was proud of the team for hanging tough with the top teams in the state for competitive soccer. Some advice Coach Heim offers the players is that they need to focus on time management. To achieve goals in soccer, or any other pursuit, success requires a 100 percent commitment.

The Samurai thank Scramaglia and Hayes Construction and Harbor Lite Lodge for providing them with showcase uniforms. Thanks to the Mendocino United youth partners and to the community for the financial support that provided them with almost $3,000 to achieve this goal.